Swedish ‘Big, Big Gospel, Jazz Band’ to visit area

by Paul Cozad
Niagara Frontier Publications, July 5, 2007

The ‘Big, Big Gospel and Jazz Band’ from Sweden will be performing at two North Tonawanda area churches next weekend.

For all you older “Big Band” music lovers and for you younger ones that have probably never heard a “Big Band” play, this is an upcoming music event you cannot miss. From July 13-15, this 70-member “Big, Big Gospel and Jazz Band” from Sweden is coming to several Western New York Lutheran churches as part of their eighth U.S. tour. The members of this gospel and jazz band are made up of high school and college-age students, along with professional adults, coming from a 50-mile radius of Roke, a small village in Sweden’s southern province of Skane. Most members are between 16 and 25 years old, but some are older, including medical doctor Tore Nilsson, and a carpenter, Per Bernesson, both who have played in the band for over 25 years.

This big band tour is sponsored by Fellowship Ministries, Tempe, Ariz., and will be giving concerts in seven states: New York, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan and New Jersey.

As stated by Ministries president, Dave Anderson, this gospel and jazz band is, “absolutely incredible, with standing ovations at the end of each performance. You’ve never heard ‘When the Saints Come Marching In’ until you’ve heard this band’s ‘Swingin Saints’ arrangement. When the 12 trombones do their verse, the audience comes to their feet … and then the 12 trumpets take over. Unbelievable! You have to hear it to believe it!”

There will be three separate concerts in North Tonawanda. On Friday, July 13, at 7 p.m., one will be held in St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 875 Eggert Drive, off Walck Road (between Payne Avenue and Nash Road). Then on Sunday, July 15, there will be two concerts at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 453 Old Falls Blvd. (about 1/2 mile from Niagara Falls Boulevard, near the Erie Canal), one at 8 a.m., and the other at 10:45 a.m.

Though there is no charge for admission, a free-will offering will be taken. There is no reserve seating, except for groups of 15 or larger.

This band has given more than 100 concerts internationally and has played at Disneyland, Walt Disney World and SeaWorld, with its “Big Band” music and arrangements of gospel, jazz, spirituals, hymns and folk tunes.

In addition, their U.S. concerts will include special guest and band alumnus Vincent Nilsson, one of the most renowned jazz trombonists in all of northern Europe. Nilsson is a member of the Royal Danish Big Band and plays regularly at Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen.

This band arrived in Baltimore from Sweden on June 29 and, following a whirlwind tour of Christian churches in the eastern U.S., staying at over 650 host homes along the way, will return to Sweden from John F. Kennedy International on July 19. These dedicated band members pay their own way to the U.S., with tour expenses to the U.S. being deferred by a free-willing offering, each concert.

Come one, come all, young and old, families and friends, just do not miss this big, big band gospel and music extravaganza. It will surely fill your heart and bring joy to your soul.

For group reservations at the St. Matthews’ concerts, call Ron Witt or Bill Storey at 692-5933. For the St. Paul’s concerts, call Rev. Haeussler at 693-2157 or 692-3255.